posted on February 1, 2004 10:34:08 PM
Never had reason to before, but tonight I was browsing bras in my size.
Many of the listings had the notation that they were returns from "TV's #1 Home Shopping Network" and that the item may be worn, stained, already laundered or have a cologne/tobacco smell.
Are people really so desperate for bargains they'll bid on pre-worn unmentionables?
(Yeah, I know about the used panty auctions but that's not what I'm talking about. Stick to the subject, please.)
I just don't get it. By the time you tack on shipping, on most of these listings you're real close to what it would cost you at SquallMart...plus you'd get a new item sealed in a plastic bag there.
posted on February 1, 2004 11:33:22 PM
I guess they are cataring to the stay at home buyers. There are some buyers that never leave their home either because they are handicapped or otherwise and they need clothes also. That is the only reason I can think of.
posted on February 2, 2004 04:21:37 AM
What's the difference between buying a used bra and a used pair of pants? The pants have touched parts of the body that can be far less sanitary than the breast area. No, I don't buy used bras. I'm a hard fit and if I don't have to wear one, I don't. At least most bras are white and you can wash them in bleach. I don't see what the big crime is here. Even when you buy something from the store, there's a good chance someone has already tried it on. A lot of that stuff you buy on clearance at a store are returns.
Who knows, maybe these people like the HSN bras but can't afford to buy them at full price.
posted on February 2, 2004 06:50:17 AM
I have struggled with this issue, too. I really dont like buying used clothing, but Cheryl is right about clothing in stores -people do try them on (an many are not so clean when they go out shopping or whatever)and many returns do go on clearance racks. (ever try something on and it smells horrible?? lol!) I still want my undergarments to be new though even if you can bleach them. But I could see people buying them if they are in good condition and feel safe that washing them is going to sanitize them. I just started opening up a bit to used clothing, but its seems to me its hard enough to judge in person never mind online from a picture? I am more apt to buy clothes from an estate sale getting the look and feel of the house or person who lived there. (But some mentioned how even there, it could not be from there.)
I had a discussion with my sister and was wondering if in the thrift stores they 'spray' them down or something ? I mean, what about Lice or fleas, they are around, and hide out in clothing? You just never know.
I'm not saying it's a crime, I'm saying I just don't get it that people knowingly buy potentially-soiled brassieres. I wear a hard-to-find size--on a good day at SquallMart I might find two after searching high and low--but I found more than 50 listings on eBay. About 20% of those were brand-new rather than HSN returns.
I didn't know you could bleach a white bra. I always thought bleach would break down the elastic.
Hi neroter12,
Like you I have real reservations about used clothing in general. I never buy it, not even at garage sales. I even scrutinize the clothing at Bloomingdales for signs of try-ons; I won't buy anything that doesn't look absolutely fresh.
That said, at least here I can understand why someone might want to. If you pick up a cute suit jacket at an off-price store like TJ Maxx, and you find the matching skirt in your size on eBay, yeah, that makes sense.
posted on February 2, 2004 07:32:44 AM
"I had a discussion with my sister and was wondering if in the thrift stores they 'spray' them down or something ? I mean, what about Lice or fleas, they are around, and hide out in clothing? You just never know."
No, most thrift stores don't process clothing donations in any way; they just put 'em on hangers and price 'em. Strictly caveat emptor.
Re: vermin, I was at a dry cleaner's years ago when a lady came in and dumped a big pile of clothing on the counter. Dozens of black bugs skittered out from underneath. The counter person screamed. It was freaky, like something from the first "Men in Black".
I didn't get a good look but I think they were carpet bugs. Maybe she'd been accumulating dirty clothing on her closet floor.
posted on February 2, 2004 08:01:04 AM
i have seen people buying stained clothes and ripped clothes at thrift shops and they could buy brand new ones for the same price or less in dept stores.may be they are not aware clothes are a lot cheaper these days,they are all made in less developed countries.
at Kohl,some are marked down the day they show up on the floor.
marilyn monroe does not wear underwear and she will go to dept store ,tried on pants and tried to shoplift them.
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
posted on February 2, 2004 09:42:07 AM
I'm thinking cross dressers too. Sometimes I wonder if the large sizes on Ebay are going to them. If I were a cross dresser and wanted anonymity, I'd buy from one of the TV shopping networks, too. Jewelry, purses, shoes--the possibilities are endless.
___________________________________
"I have resolved to allow my friends their peculiarities." -- Samuel Johnson
posted on February 2, 2004 10:59:44 AM
FYI: There several nonchlorine bleaches that will not harm elastic, i.e OxyClean is one. I don't as a rule buy clothes from a thrift store, but last yr. I was browsing for china & spotted a really nice London Fog jacket for $2.95. It was really grundgy, but in good condition. It fit me perfectly. For another $3.50 I had it drycleaned & it looked like new. Not bad, a $50.00 jacket for $6.00.
posted on February 2, 2004 11:09:22 AM
Generally you can just be sure to include the size in the title. You can also use crossdresser as mentioned above but if you have something truly over the top with generaous helpings of glitter glitz and glam - add Drag Queen .
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on February 2, 2004 11:21:40 AM
There is a whole sexual fetish group of buyers out there for used clothing of all types. Bras, shoes, socks, blouses, anything that can be worn. Used children's clothes is another area where perverts buy.
I too wonder just how big a share the eBay used clothing market is driven by the fetish buyers. The prices seem to be either ridiculously high or too low to represent a viable internet market.
I know there was one seller "outed/linked to" on the Roundtable. She "modeled" everything she sold, and the prices were high and sell through was at least 95%.
I don't think the used clothing market on eBay is what many think it is.
posted on February 2, 2004 11:37:46 AM
I shop at thrift stores and we have one that has new clothing. Talbotts must give their clothes to them. But back to the used. I have bought and sold Coogi sweaters. Tundra from Canada sweaters. The other day I got a vera bradley jewelry bag. Never used. I do look at the sweaters mainly, mens ties and purses. I have make quite a sum on some of those items. I do clean them before I sell them. Men throw away very expensive ties. Rush Limbaugh, Hermes, Leonard to name a few. Most of those are vintage and bring a bood buck.
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